Beverage container

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus is provided for ingesting a beverage and then administering a breath freshener. A disposable container is provided. The container includes a bottom. The bottom has an interior surface contacted by a liquid dispensed into the container. The bottom also has an exterior surface. A breath freshener is removably attached to the exterior surface.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a system and method for associating a personal hygiene or ingestible element with a container (e.g., cup, wrapper, and/or the like). More particularly, the invention pertains to beverage containers that enable an individual to freshen his or her breath in association with consuming a beverage from the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A wide variety of beverage containers exist. Disposable paper and foam cups are widely utilized by restaurants, stores, and shops to hold coffee, hot chocolate, water, tea and other beverages. Consumers of such beverages, in particular coffee, typically utilize a breath spray (e.g., LISTERINE™), a lozenge, a mint, breath strips (e.g., Wrigley's ECLIPSE™) or some other ingestible composition to clean and/or alter the odor of their teeth, gums, tissue in their mouths, and/or breath prior to, during or after consuming the beverage. In order to use such breath fresheners, an individual often carries them on his or her person or finds some other source of breath fresheners. It is, unfortunately, a simple matter to usually forget to have a breath freshener on hand. If an individual does not have a breath freshener, the individual likely will have halitosis which is a common result, but ordinarily is not regarded as a serious disorder. Halitosis can, however, have a detrimental and negative effect, particularly in certain situations such as job interviews, business meetings, and social gatherings.

[0003] Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method and apparatus for consuming a beverage that allows an individual to, in association with ingesting a beverage, conveniently use a breath freshener or other composition that could be ingested or applied topically to the eyes, skin, or hair to, for example, offset or enhance the effects of ingesting the beverage. Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved beverage container. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved beverage container that facilitates the use of a breath freshener by an individual after the individual consumes a beverage that is in the container. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for using an existing beverage container, which method and apparatus do not substantially alter the structure of the existing beverage container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention includes beverage containers that enable an individual to freshen his or her breath in association with consuming a beverage from the container. In a further respect, the invention pertains to disposable, nested beverage containers that each can be provided with a breath freshener without substantially affecting the ability of the cups to be nested and without substantially altering the structure of the containers.

[0005] In one embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus comprising a container which includes an edible substance and which includes an element removably associated with the container, wherein the element is different from the edible substance and the element includes at least one of vitamin, gum, candy, aspirin, pill, eye drop, wet wipe, clothing cleaner, medication, personal hygiene item and ingestible item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage container constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; and,

[0008]FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the bottom of the beverage container of FIG. 1 illustrating further construction details thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved apparatus for ingesting a beverage and for freshening breath in association with ingesting the beverage. The apparatus comprises a beverage container comprising an upper end with an opening for dispensing a liquid from the container, and a lower end. The lower end includes an inner bottom surface contacted by a liquid placed in the container and includes an exterior bottom surface. The apparatus also includes a breath freshener removably attached to or placed within the exterior bottom surface.

[0010] While in one embodiment, the invention is described in association with ingesting a breath freshener, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any “element” such as, for example, food, medicine, liquid and/or solid which may be ingested or applied to eyes, skin, hair, or clothing may be incorporated into the system. For example, one or more vitamin, gum, candy, aspirin, pill, eye drop, wet wipe, clothing cleaner wipe and/or liquid, medication or any other personal hygiene or ingestible element may be attached to or contained in a container in a similar manner as discussed herein.

[0011] Moreover, while the invention may be described in association with a “container”, and particularly a beverage container, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any device suitably configured to hold an item may be incorporated into the system and method of the present invention. For example, an ice cream bowl, mug, water bottle, water pouch, squirt bottle, soup bowl, soda can, juice cup, infant sipping cup, Tupperware type bowl, wrapper, food itself and/or the like.

[0012] In another embodiment of my invention, I provide an improved method for ingesting a beverage and freshening breath before, during, or after the beverage is ingested. The method includes the step of providing a beverage container comprising an upper end with an opening for receiving a liquid into the container and allowing a user to drink from the container; a lower end including an inner bottom surface contacted by a liquid placed in the container, and including an exterior bottom surface; and, a breath freshener removably attached to, or contained within, the exterior bottom surface. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the breath freshener may be removably attached to any portion of the container by any means known in the art such as, for example, glue, tape, or any other non-toxic adhesive. The breath freshener may also be located within any portion of the container such as, for example, a compartment between the inner bottom surface and the exterior bottom surface, wedged between a fold anywhere on the cup or lid, within a compartment located in the lid or handle or within a compartment located on the side surface of the cup. The method also includes the steps of charging the beverage container with a quantity of the beverage; consuming at least a portion of the beverage in the beverage container; and, removing the breath freshener from the exterior bottom surface and ingesting the breath freshener.

[0013] Turning now to the drawings, which depict exemplary embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a hollow beverage container generally indicated by reference character 10 and including an upper end 11 and lower end 12. Conical side or wall 13 extends between upper end 11 and lower end 12. Upper end 11 includes lip or rim 14 that circumscribes a circular opening through which liquid is dispensed into or removed from container 10 in conventional fashion. Container 10 can be fabricated from any desired material; however, in one exemplary embodiment of the invention, container 10 is a disposable cup fabricated from paper or foam and is the type of cup used by STARBUCKS™, CIRCLE K™, and other restaurants, stores, vendors, home owners, business persons, etc. to dispense coffee, tea, milk, water, soft drinks, and other beverages. Snap-on plastic lids are often provided for such disposable cups. Such lids may or may not include openings for dispensing a beverage from the container. Containers 10 typically can be nested or stored one inside the other in the manner indicated in FIG. 1 by the container 10A nested inside cup 10. Container 10A is identical in shape and dimension to container 10.

[0014]FIG. 2 further illustrates the lower end 12 of container 10. Circular bottom 15 includes circular exterior surface 16 and circular interior surface 17. Surface 16 is opposed to, spaced apart from, and parallel to surface 17. Circular foot 18 circumscribes and extends outwardly from surface 16 and functions to space surface 16 above the counter top or other surface 20 on which container may be resting.

[0015] Breath freshener 21 is removably attached to exterior surface 16 with release adhesive, tape, or any other desired fastener. The breath freshener 21 pictured in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a mint. As noted, breath freshener 21 can be gum, chocolates, breath spray, or any other desired composition that is ingestible or topical. In addition, pharmaceutical or other compositions may be removably secured to surface 16 for use by the individual consuming beverage from container 10. Compositions removably secured to surface 16 can be the type that are ingested, are topically applied to the skin or hair, or are applied to the eyes or linings of the nose.

[0016] The height of foot 18 is indicated by arrows A in FIG. 2. Height A is, in one embodiment, greater than the height, indicated by arrows B, of breath freshener 21. When the height of freshener 21 is less than or equal to the height A of foot 18, this enables foot 18—and not freshener 21—to contact a surface 20 and support container 10. This also allows for, when containers 10 are nested in the manner show in FIG. 1, freshener 21 on surface 16 of a container 10A to not contact surface 17 of a container 10 in which container 10A is nested. In the practice of the invention, a container 10 need not be nested with other similar containers. Such nesting to store or pack containers is, however, common. The shape and dimension of freshener 21 can vary as desired.

[0017] The shape and dimension of a container 10 can vary as desired, as can the material used to fabricate a container 10. The container only need be able to receive, retain, and dispense a liquid. The container may or may not be disposable. The container may or may not include a foot 18. Exterior surface 16 may or may not contact directly the surface on which the container is set.

[0018] In use, a stack of nested containers 10 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided. Each container 10 includes a mint breath freshener 21 removably attached to the exterior bottom surface 16 of the bottom 15 of the container. A container 10 is removed from the stack of containers and is filled with coffee 21. Coffee in the container 10 is consumed by an individual. After the individual consumes the coffee, the individual removes breath freshener 21 from surface 16 and ingests freshener 21 by placing the freshener in his or her mouth and allowing the freshener to dissolve in his or her mouth.

[0019] The breath fresheners or other compositions attached to surface 16 can be either unwrapped or packaged in a wrapping, box, or other container. Such a wrapping, box, etc. may be removably or permanently secured to surface 16. A breath freshener or other composition is ingested by placing it in the mouth and allowing it to dissolve, and/or, by—either with or without chewing—swallowing the composition.

[0020] In another embodiment, it is also possible to secure permanently a breath freshener to surface 16. However, in some instances the breath freshener 21 may be permanently applied and have to be removed by licking the freshener 21 (i.e., if the freshener is candy) or by taking some other action. It is also possible to apply freshener 21 removably or permanently to the exterior of side 13. When freshener 21 is applied to surface 16 of a container 10 having a foot 18, freshener 21 is “housed” within and protected by foot 18, especially when freshener 21 has a height less than that of foot 18.

[0021] In another embodiment of the invention, a breath freshener 21, pharmaceutical, or any other desired composition can be removably or permanently attached to the underside or top of a lid that is placed on the upper end 11 of container 10 to seal or close the upper end 11 of container 10. By way of example, after a user consumes beverage from the container, the user removes breath freshener 21 from the lid and ingests the breath freshener 21.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, a dispenser is used to removably secure a breath freshener 21, pharmaceutical or any other desired composition to the exterior surface 16 of lower end 12, to a side of container 10, or to a lid. The dispenser is removably or permanently secured to end 12 or to the top or underside of a lid. For example, TIC-TAC™ dispensers comprise small, hollow, orthogonal, plastic containers. The dispensers each include a pivoting lid that is moved between an open position and a closed position. A TIC-TAC dispenser can be attached to exterior surface 16 or another portion of the lower end 12 of container 10 such that TIC-TAC breath fresheners can, while the dispenser either remains attached to or is removed from surface 16 of lower end 12, be dispensed by opening the pivoting lid on the TIC-TAC dispenser. The shape and dimension of the dispenser can be varied as desired. The mechanism incorporated in the dispenser to permit breath fresheners to be removed from the dispenser can also be varied or designed as desired. The dispenser can snap on to the lower end 12, to a die of container 10, or to a lid, or, any other desired means can be used to fixedly or removably secure the dispenser to end 12 or to a lid used on container 10. 

Having described my invention in such terms as to enable those of skill in the art to make and practice it, and having described the presently preferred embodiments thereof, I Claim:
 1. Apparatus for freshening breath after ingesting a beverage, said apparatus comprising (a) a beverage container comprising (i) an upper end with an opening for dispensing a liquid from the container, (ii) a lower end including  an inner bottom surface contacted by a liquid placed in said container, and,  an exterior bottom surface; and, (b) a breath freshener removably attached to said exterior bottom surface.
 2. A method for ingesting a beverage and freshening breath after the beverage is ingested, said method comprising the steps of (a) providing a beverage container comprising (i) an upper end with an opening for dispensing a liquid from the container, (ii) a lower end including  an inner bottom surface contacted by a liquid placed in said container exterior bottom surface, and, an exterior bottom surface; (iii) a breath freshener removably attached to said exterior bottom surface; (b) charging said beverage container with a quantity of the beverage; (c) consuming at least a portion of the beverage in said beverage container; and, (d) removing said breath freshener from said exterior bottom surface and ingesting said breath freshener.
 3. An apparatus comprising a container which includes an edible substance and which includes an element removably associated with the container, wherein the element is different from the edible substance and the element includes at least one of vitamin, gum, candy, aspirin, pill, eye drop, wet wipe, clothing cleaner, medication, personal hygiene item and ingestible item. 